No point person so far for Guardian Angels chapter in Norwalk

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, June 2, 2008

NORWALK

By ROBERT KOCH

Hour Staff Writer

A month after lending their support to bringing the Guardian Angels to Norwalk, District B Democrats failed to find a "point person" to spearhead the effort.

As part of their meeting at the South Norwalk Community Center Monday night, District B Democrats reiterated why they believe the Guardian Angels, a citizens patrol organization, is needed in Norwalk. They then asked several people to organize a local chapter of the group.

"What we need now is somebody to do the heavy lifting. Now I can't be a part of the patrol, obviously, because I can't walk," said Michael K. Geake, the District B Democrat and at-large councilman who invited Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa to Norwalk last month. Geake is disabled. "But I am definitely going to help with the mentoring and the cybering (anti-crime activities) -- I'm a software developer. It only makes sense."

Geake said the "point person" would start the local Guardian Angels chapter, if it were formed, and lead members "through their training and ... recruiting the rest of the members."

Among those asked to serve as point person was Vito Bochicchio, owner of Eveready Transportation. He, however, cited his "battles" with the city over the relocation of taxi services at the South Norwalk Train Station, and with the state Department of Transportation -- he's seeking permission to operate additional taxis -- as reasons not to get too heavily involved.

"Although I do feel (the Guardian Angels) is a wonderful cause that I'm going to be involved in, I am stretched too thin. I have 75 cabs at five locations," Bochicchio said afterward. "I am going to get involved in this thing (the Guardian Angels) as much as I can with the spare time that I have because it's a great cause."

Martha Dumas, a South Norwalk resident who last month spoke in favor of bringing the Guardian Angels to Norwalk, said she would "get involved but not as a point person."

Lacking a volunteer to spearhead the effort, District B Democrats unanimously passed a resolution reiterating their support for bringing the Guardian Angels to Norwalk.

About a month ago, District B Democrats endorsed bringing the Guardian Angels, a citizens crime patrol organization which formed in New York City in 1979, to Norwalk to reduce what they view as an unacceptable amount of crime -- particularly in South Norwalk.

Mayor Richard A. Moccia and Police Chief Harry W. Rilling have taken a dim view of the matter, saying crime is going down and that Geake first should have spoken with them before inviting Sliwa to speak before the Common Council's Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee. Geake is chairman of the committee.

On May 22, Sliwa and two other Guardian Angels outlined to the health committee the work of the Guardian Angels, including patrol work, making citizens arrests, training and other activities, such as mentoring young people and preventing cyber-bullying.

Sliwa told committee members that the Guardian Angels would become established in Norwalk only if residents want them in the city. In effect, establishing a Guardian Angels chapter rests on input and work from local residents.